EU Commission, driving at 17 and digital licence: these and other proposals

The European Commission has today presented proposals for modernize licensing rules also driving through the introduction of a digital driving license valid throughout the Union, and new rules to make it easier to enforce the road code across borders. Standards which, in addition to increasing the safety of citizens and road users, will be an important vector for eliminating the number of fatalities and serious injuries in the EU by 2050.

A very ambitious goal that cannot do without adequate regulations. After all, only last year on European roads more than 20,000 people lost their livesmost of which consisted of pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and scooter drivers, while the idea is to have a 50% reduction in 2030 as early as 2030.

“Thanks to the new rules, drivers will be better prepared for zero emission vehicles (the 2035 deadline for combustion engines has been less certain for a few hours, ed) and driving on urban streets, characterized by a greater number of bicycles and two-wheelers and by a high number of pedestrians”writes the EU.

Which for this reason launches a rather ambitious idea, of grant already at 17 the possibility of driving as long as you go accompanied: from the age of 17 you can learn to drive and obtain a driving licence, then, when you turn 18, you can immediately get behind the wheel. In this way time is cut and, above all, at least in intentions, the period in which the young driver drives alongside someone with experienceso you can learn more soft how to behave on the street e consequently improve road safety.

Here you are the proposed measures:

• trial period of at least 2 years for new drivers after passing the test and zero tolerance for drink driving. Although young people represent only 8% of all motorists, statistics indicate that 2 out of 5 fatal accidents involve a driver (of cars or motorcycles) under the age of 30
• Possibility of take the exam and drive cars and trucks, accompanied, from 17 years old

As far as licenses are concerned, the Commission proposes for the first time in the world the introduction of a digital driving licence. As replacement, renewal or conversion of a driving license will be much easier because all the procedures can be carried out online.

Among the others measures aimed at increasing road safety are distinguished:

• adaptation of training and exams for obtaining the license so as to:

  • better prepare drivers for presence of vulnerable road usersfor the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, those on electric bicycles or electric scooters, increasingly present in the EU’s transition towards sustainable urban mobility
  • evaluate, for example, knowledge and skills related to advanced driver assistance systems and other automated technologies
  • teach novices how their driving style affects emissionshow much impact, for example, changing gear at the right speed

• more focused assessment of medical fitnesswhich takes into account advances in medical care for diseases such as diabetes
• encouragement for drivers ad update your skills and driving knowledge to keep abreast of technological developments.

And then there’s the question of cross-border enforcement to ensure that non-resident offenders are properly punished, creating unequal treatment between resident and non-resident offenders. In 2019, explains the Commission, around 40% of cross-border infringements were committed with impunity, both because the offenders were not identified and because the payment was not enforced.

For which there is a plan for address current shortcomings in cooperation between Member States during the investigation of infringements. Furthermore, the current legislation covers some of the most frequent and serious offences, such as speeding and drink driving. The Commission proposes that the scope of traffic offenses be extended to also include:

• failure to respect the safety distance
• dangerous overtaking
• the dangerous stop
• overtaking with a continuous longitudinal stripe
• reverse driving
• failure to comply with the rules on the use of emergency lanes
• driving a vehicle that exceeds the maximum permissible weight.

To avoid impunity for traffic offenders, a new system will be set up which will allow driving bans to apply across the EU if a Member State decides to ban a driver from driving because of an offense committed on the road. its territory.

These and other Commission proposals will have to be examined by the European Parliament and the Council.